More On The Packers Preseason Win Over The Seahawks
by Brandon on Aug 23, 2010 7:01 AM CDT
in Green Bay Packers Training Camp
Email
Print
The good news is that the Green Bay Packers suffered few injuries during the game at Seattle. Mike McCarthy only mentioned two: RB Quinn Porter (ankle) and WR Brett Swain. Porter didn't return, but Swain only had the wind knocked out of him, and he did return. This was a big opportunity lost for Porter. He could have had the entire 4th quarter to himself. Instead FB John Kuhn played tailback for a few carries, and then RB Brandon Jackson came back in for a 26 yard run and 12 yard game winning TD run. If Porter remains out, only RB Ryan Grant and Jackson remain available (with RB Kregg Lumpkin and RB James Starks already out). Grant is playing but he suffered a concussion during the preseason opener against the Browns. Only Jackson has come through the preseason unscathed (and I probably just jinxed it for him).
While they've struggled to keep their running backs healthy, the linebackers haven't fared much better. LB Clay Matthews (hamstring), LB Brad Jones (shoulder), and LB A.J. Hawk (ankle), which he injured in practice on Thursday, were all held out against the Seahawks. It's keeping them out now, but I haven't read anything that said those are serious injuries. So it's given more playing time for LB Desmond Bishop with the first team defense (such as it remains intact) and LB Robert Francois in the 2nd half. Due to injuries and certain veterans (CB Charles Woodson and LB Nick Barnett) given the game off to rest, the starting defense on Saturday night only had about one-half of the actual first team defenders.
LB Brandon Chillar is seeing the same thing I've been seeing in the first two preseason games. According to the Journal-Sentinel, he said it's a "little humbling" to watch his play in the first two games. He's still getting after the ball and making tackles, but now he's at outside LB and providing no pass rush.
33 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
RB
I am feeling better about Jackson being able to carry the load if Grant goes down, Kuhn looks good too.
I would love to see a trade of 2 of our average-good LBs for 1 great one that could play every down.
I would love to see a trade of 2 of our average-good LBs for 1 great one that could play every down.
Can you name one of those LBs whose owner would be willing to conduct such a trade?
I mean, I would love to retire and live in Hawaii my entire life. But as it stands, I’m working… in Iowa.
No, it is not my job to find that LB if he exists that is TT"s job, I was just making a statement on what I would like to see. No need to be an a**.
Curious...
when was the last time a team traded a great LB for two average ones?
by PackFaninFL on Aug 23, 2010 10:21 AM CDT up reply actions
Maybe a team that has a new gm who wants all his own guys, a team that is rebuilding and doesn’t want to pay a high priced vet but would rather have a couple of young guys to rebuild with. And I said average-good.
So in other words
You know of no instance of this happening in the history of the NFL but you expect TT to pull this off in the next couple of weeks.
Slow clap
by Danwood on Aug 23, 2010 11:21 AM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
It happened the other day...
but I was playing Madden at the time.
I don’t know any team that is going to give up a great player for two average ones…at any position.
job
If your offering it up as Thompsons job then your making the statement that he SHOULD be doing it… When in fact he can’t make a trade happen out of thin air!!!
If your going to pose a situation like this you better offer up a possibility otherwise your ranting about something that is TOTALLY unrealistic!!!
same guys/same play
Until TT goes out and gets some better defensive players the D is going to be susceptible to being torn up by good QBs. Shuffling the same old guys around isn’t going to cut it. Chillars can’t rush, Hawk is slow and can’t cover. I know TT hates free agency but when you are one or two players away from being good…….
But who
The biggest problem with this sort of critique is “who are they going to bring in?” The only real marquee player up in FA this year was Peppers. I don’t think Peppers would really work here, he might, but it might be a lot like the Kampman experiment and even worse because it would be much more expensive.
The other defensive players who changed teams this year all have major question marks around them and might not completely fit out scheme.
After that the holes on D are fairly clear: OLB, S, and CB. When you look at who will play versus last year the only position that isn’t get a “fresh” face out those three is OLB. Lee didn’t play last year to injury, so his play will be fresh. We drafted Burnett. That leaves OLB. I know some would of wanted to see Kindle in the 2nd or something of the like, but then we would be scrambling at DE without Neal.
I get what you are saying, but looking at what he was working with this past offseason I’m not too disappointed with the lack of moves.
by PackApologist on Aug 23, 2010 5:40 PM CDT up reply actions
Trgovac
Peppers wouldn’t come here because he hates Trgovac from his days in Carolina. Other than that, I agree with your point completely, PA.
I think Wisfan’s point was really more wishful thinking than anything. Egbert’s just voicing some concern over holes in the lineup. Personally, I believe every team has holes. We follow the Packers more than the others so we’re more intimately in tune to what their holes are. I think we’re in as good of shape as any team out there, and better than most. Injuries, or the lack thereof, will most likely play a bigger factor in the seasons success than not having Sergio Kindle, for example, who hasn’t proven anything yet.
by gern blanston on Aug 23, 2010 9:49 PM CDT up reply actions
We are one or two players from being GOOD?
We might be one or two players from being amazing, but we are very clearly already good.
Mike Neal
may be the key to the entire season, as far as the D goes. I feel the Packers are still stuck with some of their 4-3 personnell. Pickett is a great nose, but is too big and slow to be an end that can rush the passer. Jenkins is more than fine at the other end.
I think moving Chillar will pay off in the long run will be fine given how nicked up Jones has been. If you can’t stay on the field, you’re not a lot of good to us. So, we have to develop that depth.
A good pass rush covers up weaknesses in the secondary. I think this is a strength of the Vikings, as a basis of comparison.
Underwood is still committing lots of mental mistakes. He may have all the tools, but he’s got to use them – especially his head. I’m surprised that the ‘Hawks went after Underwood and not Lee as everything I’ve read suggests Brandon is having the better camp. That’s good, because it let’s us know exactly what we’ve got back there. I find myself putting more and more eggs in the Al Harris and Charles Woodson basket!
Before everyone jumps off a cliff or something over the defense… Consider this. Underwood, Lee, Burnett and even Chillar to an extent are being put into sitations in the preseason, that are taxing their abilties! THey are being asked to do more than they would in the regular season. This has the advantage of hastening their growth curve to get them ready for their more limited or realistic roles and responsibilities! So while your all crying over Underwood missing a coverage or Burnett missing something or other, REMEMBER that they are doing MORE now than they will in the regular season!!!
Underwood starting and being asked to cover better recievers than he will during the season, Lee being the nickel instead of dime CB, Burnett making ALL the adjustments instead of only SOME, etc… This is obviously by design so they are forced to learn quicker more prominent roles now and adapt to the NFL quicker than if they are playing their normal, more limited roles in the regular season!!!
In other words, quit gripping about this or that, cuz its not a portenter of things to come!!!
or confuse them more...
if they don’t get it now, throwing more at them is not going to help. It may make things worse.
It’s a double edged sword and that they’re resting some guys, and others are injured, so they don’t have much choice but to let them play.
bottom line, for me at least, is that they need to understand the defense as a whole so they know where their help is, if any. They know what their part is in the bigger picture and this aids in communication and less blown assignments. Therefore, to say “I only know or need to know Nickel, or Dime, or whatever” is missing the forest for the trees.
by gern blanston on Aug 23, 2010 2:21 PM CDT up reply actions
forest for the trees
Thats why their being asked to take on a larger role now in the preseason when it does’nt matter! It helps their understanding of the “bigger picture”!!!! What about that don’t you get? It also helps prepare them in case of injury in case they are called upon later to take on a more prominent role! I would think that should be extremely obvious to you…. Guess not!!!
wow
you’ve been awfully critical of everyone today….
I said the bigger picture COULD create more confusion if they’re not ready for it. Please read what I wrote. Yes, the concept in and of itself is not all that difficult to comprehend. As it is applied to each and every person is really the determining factor. If Underwood is not Rhodes Scholar material, and his actions in Lake Delton suggest that to be the case, he may be having a hard time taking all this in even though it’s his second year. Forcing more down his throat than he’s ready for will not help. It will make things worse.
by gern blanston on Aug 23, 2010 2:57 PM CDT up reply actions
Bigger picture.
Gotta get them ready for a regular season workload and to find out if they can keep up w/ the NFL pace don’t you? Thats all part of the “bigger picture”, at least it is in my opinion! The regular season workload is alot heavier than the typical preseason when its all vanilla schemes and coverages. If they can’t adapt to the NFL workload they won’ last in the NFL very long and its better to find out sooner than later.
not so
yes, they need to get ready for the regular season.
Never having been in an NFL training camp, my understanding is they put everything in during the off season and training camp and then draw from that for each particular opponent during the week. The offense, for example, only has about 100 plays for each week of the 1000s or more in the total playbook. They may come up with new plays based upon certain things that they see, but it’s not as hard.
each week is probably a little easier as the season goes on because they are dealing with a smaller subset, but have lots of repitition of base things from which to build upon.
by gern blanston on Aug 23, 2010 3:16 PM CDT up reply actions
impressions can be decieving!
NFL games take alot of preparation each and every week! Its not going to get easier as the games take on more significance later in the year. In fact its just the opposite… THe amt of individual preparation time usually increases as the regular season progresses and the playoffs approach, as the players are looking for any little edge they can get. The pressure to make the right plays, and the adjustments needed to be in position to make those plays magnifies! Technique isn’t taught or focused on as much but the other forms of preparation increases.
From my understanding they have textbook sized playbooks each and every week throughtout the season! And they have to know them inside and out! And its not just the plays, but each week, each opponent has a different adjustments depending on the teams being played. One play call vs the bears is going to have a different set of adjustments for the same play call for the vikes the next week. Hell even the same call vs the bears early in the season is going to have a different set of adjustment vs the bears later in the season.
and your sources are???
you use lots of exclamation points and speak authoritatively as if you have some inside knowledge. yet where are these opinions coming from?
The game plans take preparation by the coaches – not the players. Those are typically done during the day after the game while the players have the day off (or during the off season and the bye week). The rest of the week is the installment of that game plan – using a class room setting and walk throughs and scrimmaging. I’d have to imagine they go over in nauseating detail the specifics of the very limited plays (when in relation to the entire playbook) to help avoid as much confusion as possible. After all that’s said and done, they watch lots of hours of cut ups of game film to see formations, track tendencies, get tells on routes, etc. Yes, the players are thrown into the blender. But how many of these guys are extremely intelligent? Not all that many. Myron Rolle is the exception. Athletes have managed to get by on their physical tools, not their mental tools. The guys that have both the physical tools and the mental tools are DPOY like Woodson.
by gern blanston on Aug 23, 2010 9:24 PM CDT up reply actions
my point earlier about it getting easier
let’s use numbers. Say there are about 1000 plays, just for arguments sake. of the 1000, maybe 200 are base. Of the 200 base, how many are used every week? Call it 35. As the season progresses the 200 base plays will be used over the course of several weeks, thus giving the players more exposure to them. From there, it’s easier to build off that base of 200 for minor tweaks for the varying opponents.
by gern blanston on Aug 23, 2010 9:38 PM CDT up reply actions
Game plans are made up by the coaches, but the players have to know them inside and out! They’re even tested every week on how well they know the game plan, the concepts. Players then have to study their opponents in depth (Woodson does that a ton, Harris too). All the players have to know the tendencies of all the players they’re likely to see. Preparation isn’t just about the game plan… Its all inclusive.
Check out the Wonderlic scores of the OL, the QB they are far more intelligent than the average fan. But the guys that don’t necessarily have the IQ can still have very high football IQ’s. In the NFL, IMO, not many players get by just on their physical tools! If they try to they find out in a heartbeat that if they want an NFL paycheck they better put in as much time as it takes to know the game plans, their opponents, tendencies like you said.
Play calls are only a part of the game plan. The adjustment each game change depending on the opponent and their schemes and personnel. PLays can also be run out of a variety of different looks. To try to confuse the opponent on the play (offensive or defensive)…
When you’ve been focused on being an NFL player for tha majority of your life and you have that chance you don’t let just physical ability stand on its own! For alot of them this is the only thing they have ever wanted to do, and they’ll do anything needed to stay! Including spending 12+ hrs EVERYDAY on it. Some more than that…
Some players
Many players it does more harm than good to throw everything at them and maybe that is where Underwood is at. Some need continuous repetitions at a concept or technique or coverage scheme to learn it. Then go on to the next and learn the next concept while backtracking on the previous concept. Bulaga is a perfect example of a player who already knew or could absorb or process what was thrown at him. That is why they moved him to guard they felt they cpould shift him back to tackle and he pick it up where he left off.
preparation
This is an area where NFL teams don’t taylor things for the players too much! They are pretty much thrown into the fire and have to keep up or get washed out.
that's a pure guess on your part
It’s easier to point to things on offense. If Rodgers doesn’t like a play, for whatever reason, it will probably go in the garbage. If there’s a match up problem, or a scheme alignment problem due to personnel, they’re not going to run it. Why didn’t the Packers blitz the VIkings more? They didn’t trust various people to know their assignments. Absolutely things are tailored to players and the people available each week. How aggressive do you think the Jets are right now without Revis?
by gern blanston on Aug 23, 2010 9:35 PM CDT up reply actions
NFL players don’t last long in the NFL just on athletic ability! If they want to keep getting an NFL paycheck or even get on the field they better use every avenue at their disposal.
You have your opinion and I have mine, but I’ll venture to say that players spend close to 80 hrs a week, some more in preparation! If you don’t think so that being rather limited in your view. Its a physical game, but the mental strain is heavy as well!!
If a player can’t learn the scheme and its concept they can’t make adjustments very quick.
wait...
YOU were one of the people complaining about Burnett and his play…are you coming around to the other side? Hopefully you are willing to let him have his growing pains since we have no other options.
Let him play all he wants in the preseason...
But I would feel alot better having BIgby ready for the opener or shortly thereafter, so he can start!
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Acme Packing Company
Related FanShots on Acme Packing Company
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
SBNation.com Recent Stories
In Association With
Shutdown Corner - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
- Giants to be honored with commemorative NY license plate; some would rather see a 9/11 plate
- The hidden play of Super Bowl XLVI: Justin Tuck’s third-quarter sack
- Report: Chad Ochocinco will become Chad Johnson once again
- Video: Bill Belichick implores his defense to make the Giants throw to Mario Manningham
- Training Day: Learning the 40 with an Olympian
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
